Improvement in watches



UNITED STATES PATENT OEETGE.

CHARLES S. kMOSELEY, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 89,328, dated April 27, 1869.

' a watch, used to hold the mainspring when wound, these parts being all that are required to illustrate my invention.

In Figure 1 the pawl is shown engaged in the ratchet-wheel. In Fig. 2 the pawl is shown disengaged.

In repairing watches it is frequently necessary rst to let down the mainspring. In watches constructed as shown, the ratchetwheel and pawl being beneath the face and in the pillar-plate, in order to let down the mainspring the hands and face must be first removed, and then there is danger of injuring the teeth of the ratchet-wheel or the point of the pawl while letting down the mainspring. These parts are liable to injury in letting down the mainspring, wherever located.

The object of my invention is to obviate these difficulties and provide a safe and convenient mode of letting down the mainspring.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the pillar-plate; b, the ratchetwheel; c, the pawl; d, the pawl-spring; e, the winding-shaft of the barrel. There are no peculiarities in the construction of these parts, except those which I now mention.

The enlarged end of the pawl I make square,

I instead of round, as will be seen at f in the drawings. In the pillar-plate I drill a small hole, h, sufficiently large readily to receive a pin of common size. This hole commences on the edge of the plate, and passes down into the recess in which the pawl is placed, and is so located, and at such an angle with the square or inclined end of the pawl, that when a pin is inserted into this hole it will strike against the inclined end of the pawl, forming a small angle therewith. The position of this hole and the angle the pin forms with the end of the pawl will be seen from an inspection of the drawings, the hole being indicated by dotted lines, and the pin being marked a, and touching the square end of' the pawl a little below the center thereof.

At g, in the body of the plate, is a shoulder or projection, against which the pin a may strike when pushed down, and thereby be prevented from coming in contact with the ratchet-wheel.

In letting down the mainspring my improvement is used in the following manner: The pin a is first inserted in the hole h, and gently pressed in until the end touches the pawl. The pressure of the ratchet-wheel upon the pawl is then to berelieved by slightlyturning thewind ing-shaft in the usual manner. Then, with the fore-fin ger of the hand in which the movement is held, the pin is pressed downward or inward, and the pawl will be raised away from the ratchet-wheel, and the pin will pass beyond the inner end of the incline f, the position of the pawl and pin being seen at Fig. 2. The pawl having been thus disengaged, the mainspring can be safely let down, and the pin a will hold the pawl away from the ratchet-wh eel until the pin is removed. A common pin, the point having been cut off', may be used.

. My improvement, as above described, is simple and efficient5-but I do not confine myself to the exa-ct form or arrangement of parts described and shown.

It is evident that several changes may be made embodying the principle of myinvention. For example, instead of the incline f, the pawl might be provided with a projection or heel, against which to press the end of' the pin a., or a short pin, and a lever connected. thereto, might be used, the same being attached to and made a part of the watch; and, by a different arrangement of the pawl-spring from that shown, the pawl might be operated at the other end by means of a pin and lever, the pin being connected with the pawl, or a lever alone could be used, pivoted at some point near the end of the pawl, and engaging in anotch provided in the pawl, the long arm of the lever extending to the edge of the-plate, to be operated by the fin ger.

The use of my improvement is not confined to 'watches in which the ratchet-wheel is located beneath the face.

The manufacturer, as Well as the repairer,of Watches will find my improvement useful.

In the drawings the cap over the ratchetwheel is removed, to facilitate an inspection of the improvement.

Instead of the hole h, a recess might be provided in the pillar-plate, extending from the edge past the heel of the pawl; but the hole h is preferable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. Providing the pillar-plate of a watch with a hole, h, or-witha recess, through which to reach the pawl c, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. So constructing and attaching the pawl c that it can be disengaged from the ratchetwheel b by the use of a pin or lever, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

CHAS. S. MOSELEY.

Vitnesses:

F. W. MosELEY, C. L. S'riLEs. 

